Wet viviparity

Chapter 268: Cave Exploration, Ambush
In Ji Ming's palm, he held a red stone shaped like a Ganoderma lucidum.

This is the Chiyang Zhifu Stone, a piece of wood and stone that was petrified after a long period of evolution when the wood Zhi was buried under a volcanic land for a long time.

Although such spiritual objects are not rare treasures, they are extremely rare and difficult to find. Ji Ming did not expect that Li Muru would really help him find this thing in Kyoto, so he had to take action now.

On a protruding rock on the peak, Li Muru, wearing a conical hat and a dark-brown Taoist robe, stood there with his hands behind his back.

"Junior Brother Lingxu, your name has now spread throughout Jiheng Mountain. Many cultivators in the second and third realms are lining up to make friends with you."

Ji Ming looked at the high-spirited Li Muru in front of him, and remembered the purpose of her return to the mountain. He asked curiously, "Senior sister, you don't look depressed, but Senior Xinru from Huangdeng Cave has agreed to help you refine treasures?"

Refining magic weapons is not a trivial matter, let alone helping others to refine weapons. Even if the old nun Xinru is a person of the fourth realm and a person of the Buddhist sect, refining a magic weapon will still empty out many years of savings.

When Li Muru said on Woyan Island in Cangjiang River that he could ask the nun Xinru for help, he was very curious about this.

"Yes!" Li Muru nodded calmly and said, "Master has agreed to help me, but I can't just sit there and do nothing. At least I should refine a treasure by myself first, and then ask Senior Xinru for help."

The "Treasure Refining Technique: Twenty-four Turns of Taiyin" that Ji Ming gave to Li Muru can be used to refine the magic weapon Taiyin Moon Bridge.

This magic weapon needs Yin treasure to be refined, such as Ji Ming's White Bone Heart Bead. The more Yin the treasure is, the easier it is to successfully refine it.

However, Yin treasures have always been evil, and in the process of refining, they inevitably require the lives of living beings as auxiliary materials.

Ji Ming estimated that the old nun Xinru would not refine a Yin treasure herself, nor would she let Li Muru refine it himself, so he asked Li Muru to come out and "seize" one, which was in line with the style of moral cultivation.

As for Li Muru's words, he was flattering himself, which is human nature.

The old ape stood aside, spitting out a yellow sword from his mouth, hanging above his head, and said: "Although Taoist Qiuqiu is a high-level dragon and tiger master, it will not be difficult for the three of us to join forces to make him escape from the calamity."

"Junior brother, I have found out his situation."

Li Muru's eyes were full of enthusiasm, and he said: "There is a hidden narrow cave in the northwest cliff of Liuxiang Peak. Tonight, Taoist Qiuqiu will continue to summon the ghosts and gods in the "Five Internal Organs Palace" in the cave to consecrate his Three Livestock Yin Rope.

We just need to set up an ambush in advance and catch him off guard."

"The Five Internal Organs Palace, Zhong Chengzi's Yintian Palace in the underworld."

"Yes, Junior Brother, we have also been to the spirit garden outside the palace.

But don't worry, he didn't summon Zhong Chengzi. His cheap master's visit is much more expensive than summoning the magic thoughts of the side sect gods."

Ji Ming stroked the Chiyang Zhifu Stone with his fingers, pretending to be embarrassed, and said to the old ape beside him: "If the ghosts and gods in that palace get involved, it will be an additional risk."

"Good boy, we have been friends for many years. Your brother's belly is cleaner than my hairy face."

Ji Ming always only listened to half of what the old ape said. After three or four hundred years of cultivation, a great demon who was about to become a Yuandan would not have any treasures on him. Who would believe that he did not have any treasures on him?

"Old Ape, it's not that I won't help you."

Ji Ming quietly glanced at Li Muru, and then said: "In the past, I would not even blink an eye even if I had to climb mountains of swords and walk through seas of fire, but now I have to shoulder the fortunes of so many people. The burden of the thirty-six directions of the world also falls on my shoulders!"

Old Ape scratched his body uncomfortably, thinking that Jin Tong was still the same Jin Tong. The righteous cultivator's rhetoric had been practiced to perfection and he must have rehearsed it many times in private.

If Jin Tong's Taoism increases further and his status as a Taoist official rises further, it is estimated that all he would talk about would be the people of the world and all the living beings in the universe.

Li Muru nodded in agreement and chuckled, "Junior Brother Lingxu is now serving as the "Golden Boy in Charge of Fire" in Yanshou Palace. Although he is only a first-level Tianding in terms of the rank of Taoist officials, he is not an ordinary person after all."

"Cough cough!"

Ji Ming coughed twice in a serious tone. Li Muru was definitely making fun of him. Even if Tian Ding was not very good, he was still from heaven. He really didn't take bean buns as dry food.

The old ape touched his stomach, spit out two spiritual peaches, and said, "How about I return these two peaches you gave me?"

"never mind."

After all, the old ape had been with him for a long time and knew his temper thoroughly. This move made him lose his temper. He could only say, "Let me tell you in advance, except for the Three Insects Resurrection Grass and the Three Livestock Yin Rope, I have to pick the other things first."

"It's okay to give you the rest."

Old Ape waved his hand, looking very magnanimous.

“I’m not interested in the rest.”

Li Muru said calmly.

“One who doesn’t manage the household doesn’t know how expensive firewood and rice are.” Ji Ming complained, and then ignored the two people who had not yet dug a cave to build a house, and headed towards the northwest cliff on Liuxiang Peak.

At the northwest cliff, there is no sunlight all year round. The uneven wall is covered with mosses, and old vines take root in it, weaving together on the wall. Occasionally, a few strange trees grow tenaciously on it.

Here, there are more large areas of exposed rocks. Occasionally, a few pieces break loose from the wall and fall into the mountain fog below, without any sound.

"Squeak~" Ji Ming, who was held up by a strong man in front of the cliff, heard the cry of monkeys.

Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw several monkeys hanging their feet on the vines on the wall, with their upper bodies in the air, waving at Ji Ming and pointing at somewhere on the wall.

"Walk!

Don’t keep my monkeys and grandchildren waiting anxiously.”

The old ape stepped on the yellow sword and followed the guidance of the monkeys.

Li Muru also wielded a sword, with one hand behind his back and the other holding up his hat. He seemed to have a chivalrous and immortal air.

The entrance to the narrow hole in the wall was very hidden, covered by thick vines, and looked no different from other places on the wall.

As soon as you enter the cave, you can smell the stench caused by the lack of air circulation for many years. You can also see thick bat droppings on the ground, which are estimated to be two or three meters deep.

At the edge of the cave entrance, Old Ape inspected the area for a long time, and then inserted his precious Huangfeng sword into a hidden place at the entrance.

This sword contains the master's magical power, which can shrink the distance into an inch. The old ape left it at the entrance of the cave because he was afraid that Taoist Qiuqiu would be defeated and escape in the end, so he left the sword in advance to intercept him.

Ji Ming sighed that this man was indeed an old demon, with deep thoughts.

Not long after they flew, the three of them saw white paper banners of various sizes and shapes inserted in the cave.

Beyond the paper banners, one could see many soul-fixing stakes, on which were tied boys and girls who had been dead long ago. Their naked bodies had marks from whipping, branding, scalding, awl and teeth, and their entire bodies looked as if carved, with their hearts and stomachs cut open.

Ji Ming and Yuan Lao showed no signs of anger, but Li Muru clenched his teeth and looked murderous.

"Master Yuan, you never told me about these things on the Soul-Fixing Pillar."

"Third Miss, you still don't have enough experience. You think killing people to refine treasures is just killing people. If it were just that, the number of magic weapons in the world would at least triple or quadruple."

While the two were talking, Ji Ming exhaled, then took a deep breath, and all the little ghosts hidden in the soul-fixing stakes were sucked into his alchemical stomach.

"It is impossible that Taoist Qiuqiu has only arranged this. There must be other preventive measures."

Ji Ming said this and flew straight forward.

Li Muru gritted her teeth on the sword and felt like a young girl who was not very worldly-wise.

She looked at the tragically dead body on the soul-fixing stake again, and knew that with her temperament, even if she had experienced enough, she would never be as indifferent as Jin Tong and Yuan Lao.

The further you go into the cave, the narrower and more difficult it becomes to navigate. A foul-smelling wind begins to blow in from inside, and there is also a sound like leaves banging together, making a clattering sound.

Before Ji Ming could make any move, Li Muru behind him raised his hand and a tattered leather bag flew out.

The bag fell deep into the cave. When the bag was opened, it seemed as if a ghost was stretching out from the bag. Suddenly, half of its body appeared outside the mouth. It scooped hard in the cave and pulled a large group of bats into the bag.

The strange noise in the cave suddenly disappeared.

"what is this?"

Jimin asked while looking at the skin bag.

"Sword bag."

Li Muru turned the leather bag upside down, and immediately a large amount of dirty blood was poured out, explaining: "The sword bag can usually refine the essence of specific herbs, gold and stone ores, and pills, so that it can be used to refine the magic sword kept in the bag from time to time.

Of course, when dealing with some less powerful monsters, you can also use it to refine them."

Ji Ming nodded in understanding, and then heard Li Muru say in a sarcastic tone: "Of course, if I had a little bit of the elite hardware refined into the sword, why would I need such a complicated method as a sword bag to improve the magic sword."

"Haha~"

Ji Ming laughed a few times and said generously, "It's just some hardware elite. I'll go back to Lan Yin Fang and refine some more to send to Senior Sister someday."

The master's "Mirage Dragon Dao Zang·Illusion Sea Floating and Sinking Heart" was originally prepared for Li Muru. In fact, he had already taken a big advantage over the other party, so it would not be a problem to refine some hardware elite for Li Muru.

Li Muru was at a loss as to how to respond to Ji Ming's words when it came to the magic sword.

Old Yuan saw all this in his heart and was surprised at Jin Tong's rare generosity. Could it be that he had fallen in love with Li Muru?

No, no, if Jin Tong was told that he was attracted by the nun Xin Ru's background behind Li Muru, he would rather believe it. He knew how strong Jin Tong's determination was.

Not long after, Ji Ming and his companions reached the deepest part of the cave. They saw three walls in front of them with carvings of ugly ghosts and gods, an empty incense table below, and nothing else.

"We'll wait here."

(End of this chapter)